This photo collage produced by Northern Michigan University shows the five Wildcats women’s wrestlers who earned Great Lakes Valley Conference all-league awards recently. From left are Alissa Caltagirone, Sophia Bassino, Abbie Miles, Alyssa Keane and Mickaela Keane. (Photo illustration courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — Five women’s wrestlers from Northern Michigan University were recognized by the Great Lakes Valley Conference with all-league awards recently.

The top three honorees, junior Alissa Caltagirone and sophomore Sophia Bassino and Abbie Miles, have also qualified for the NCAA Championships to be held near Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday. Each placed in the top three in their weight division at the regional tournament held in Tiffin, Ohio, two weeks ago.

Caltagirone, from Farmingdale, New York, was named to the GLVC First Team at 145 pounds after she finished runner-up at the regionals, where she had a 3-1 record.

She is also the only wrestler not from McKendree University on the First Team.

Bassino, from Chicago, made the GLVC Second Team at 160 pounds after she was third at regionals with a 4-1 mark, and also is the NMU representative for the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award as one wrestler earned this award from each of the conference’s seven member schools.

Miles, from Kenosha, Wisconsin, also earned a spot on the GLVC Second Team after she was runner-up at 180 pounds at regionals with a 3-1 record.

Making the GLVC Third Team were sisters Alyssa Keane, a freshman, and Mickaela Keane, a junior, from South Elgin, Illinois. Alyssa Keane wrestles at 138 pounds and Mickaela Keane at 208 as both won matches at regionals. Mickaela Keane was fifth there.

McKendree graduate student Cameron Guerin was named the GLVC Women’s Wrestler of the Year, while teammate Heather Crull was Freshman of the Year and McKendree coach Alexio Garcia voted GLVC Coach of the Year.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the honors. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.